Jonah Experiences the Unequaled (Part 3)

Sermon:     GM17-153

Tag:           Jonah: A Gospel of Grace

Title:           Jonah Experiences the Unequaled (Part 3)

Text:           Jonah 2:8-10

Theme:       Jonah composes a Psalm

Theory:      The gracious compassion of the salvation of God compelled Jonah to compose a psalm of thanksgiving and praise

Target:       To provide God’s people with the motivation to praise when they find themselves “saved” or “delivered” by God

Blog Distractions

I am so sorry I have been negligent in keeping my blog. I have allowed the study of Jonah, the pursuit of readings, and some other things distract me. For some reason I have very little motivation right now. I know I am discouraged and could use your prayers.

Some things that have kept me away from my blog are:

• the visit of my mother and father and sister from Austin, TX

• A short quick trip to Lynden, WA to visit my other sister and her family

• the study of Jonah

• the visit of my mother-in-law and niece from Alaska

• the visit of my daughter and her family including the twins from Illinois

• a trip to San Jose, CA for my mother-in-law's 86 birthday

• supervising the design and building of a outside deck

• the Rockford Files DVDs

• reading four (4) books at once. I have finished two but have about 2 dozen more to go.

So, I ask you to please forgive me and to pray for me. It is not like me to be discouraged and for so long of a time.

How Are You Treating God's Ear?

1. Prayer delights God’s ear; it melts His heart; and opens His hand. God cannot deny a praying soul.

Thomas Watson

Defend Your Soul!

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." [Ephesians 6:11]

Satan attacks the children of God. Satan is a very formidable, subtle, and intelligent enemy. We must be on guard against him, his attacks, and his schemes at all times.

Satan will attack God's people in various ways at the most inopportune times. These attacks come when we are usually the most vulnerable. The following are some of the times that you must be on guard in order not to be overcome by temptation, sin, or the schemes of Satan:

• When we are undergoing some type of sickness, weakness, or affliction

• When we are going about our daily life and activities with little proactive protection against his schemes and fiery darts.

• When we are busy and actively serving God in some capacity

• When we have opened ourselves up to temptation by locality, opportunity, object, or vulnerability. (i.e. if we are tempted to lust, we seek out in various places things which titillate our lusts)

• When we are being tried, tested, or troubled

This list is not exhaustive as you will imagine. It is only a guide to stimulate the thinking on protecting oneself from the attacks of Satan by the continual putting on of the armor of God. There is no "force-field" surrounding us that automatically keeps temptation from "bouncing" off and away. You must be proactive.

Someone once said, "Most Christians flee from temptation. The trouble is that they almost always leave a forwarding address." Put on the armor of God, utilize it, and defend your soul against the temptation to sin. Remember, it is no sin to be tempted. The sin comes when temptation is allowed to give birth to sin.

Two Dangerous and Dumb Things to Do!

To God Be The Glory!

Thanks to all of you who promised to pray for me last night. The preaching of God's Word at the Trinity Bible Church of Portland to His blood bought children went well. The power of God, the presence of God, and the peace of God were abundantly present. Thank you, and to God be the glory! Please continue to pray that God will graciously reveal His next assignment for me (soon)!